The National tribune., 1887-01-20
NO REDUCTION IN REVENUE NOW.

meet with the sternest opposition Of every
veteran and every friend Of the veterans. II
is dishonest in design and effect. The first
motive is desire TO defeat pension legisla-
ton by taking away from the Government
the ability to pay pensions. 1t belongs to
the same order Of demogogery and repudia-
ton as Mr.. Morrison's scheme at the last
session TO defeat pension legislation 10y tack
ing on TO the bills provision that the money
required by them should be raised by new
and obnoxious form Of taxation.
1t is dishonesty and reputation to urge
any reduction of the revenue before the Ma
tion has made sufficient provision for the
payment of all its debts and obligations. Ii
is dishonorable to do this until the Nation
has satisfied the just claims Of the men
to whom it owes its present existence and
boundless prosperity. With $4,000 ex-sol-
diers languishing in the poorhouses, to
which they have been condemned in their
old age by the hardships endured in the SER
vice Of the country, with at least double
that many more barely keeping out of in
firmaries by desperate struggles, and the en-
durance of sicllening privations, with ar
rears Of pensions due and unpaid, with the
injustice of unequal bounties unregulated,
and other similar obligations, ii is a cruel
mockery to talk about reducing revenues on
account of having no use for the surplus.
The first and most imperative duty OF
Congress is to pass legislation which Will
fulfill in letter and spirit the compact made
by the Nation with the soldiers when they
rushed TO its assistance. 1t promised them,
with the utmost solemnity, 10 properly "care
for him who bore the heat of the battle and
for his widow and orphans
The legislation urged upon Congress by
the National Pension Committee Of the G.
A. r. cOntemplates only the meager fulfill
ment of that solemn promise There is no
suggestion Of generosity in it-merely COM
mon, scant justice. Congress is not asked to
enrich anybody-to reward anybOdy-only
to give men a portion Of what they have
earned as hardly as ever men earned pit
lance in the history Of the world. OF the
Justice of this demand there can be no
shadow of doubt 1t has been repeatedly
approved by the representatives of the $780,
600 veterans belonging TO the Grand Army
of the Republic. ii has been canvassed and
discussed 10y the newspapers and public
speakers Of the country, and its reasonable
ness admitted everywhere. Fully half Q
million citizens-the greatest number ever
signing any appeal TO Congress-petitioned
the 48th Congress TO pass law complying
with the demand. The Pension COMMITTEES
of both Houses have repeatedly reported in
favor Of such law. Both Houses have
passed bills incorporating the recommends
tons Of the GAR. National Pension Com
mittee but unfortunately each has failed
TO pass the others bill In the year
that have been consumed by these pro
ceedings tens Of thousands Of disabled and
needy veterans have passed beyond the reacl
Of pension laws of all kinds Nothing tina
can be done now can assuage the bitterness
of death 10 those poor men, who felt-as tn,
cruelest pang Of all-that their country, 70
which they had sacrificed SO much, ha,
abandoned them in the day when the.
needed help the most. But this Congress
owes it to justice, decepcy and humanit.
that lOng-delayed JUSTICE shall be granted :
those who yet live.
This will not be done If there is any re
duction in the revenues. If the income c
the Nation is curtailed we shall encounte
at once the old pretense that has been use
so often TO deprive the soldiers Of justice
No money in the Treasury TO pay pensions
people viii not endure increased taxation /
raise it,"
There was never any talk Of reducing til
revenue while the bondholders' claim II
manned unsatisfed. No taxation was remit
ted until they were sure Of every dolIa
principal and interest, which was nominate
in their bonds. In order TO pay them III
the returned volunteer submitted TO taxi
ton, which began with the match wit
which he lit his fire in the morning, an
continued on everything that he or h
r family used, 10 the spoonful of soothing
strip with which he quieted his babe
f midnight. He paid every cent of that tax
ton cheerfully, and was proud to be able |
T help in honorably maintaining the faith
the Government toward the men who lei
it money. The people of the United Stat,
are as willing to pay him his just dues as |
: was TO pay those of the money-lenders.
l Will Congress carry out their wishesP
= The talk about imminent danger from
D surplus has no solid basis of fact. Betwee
2 S60,O0O.OOO and 100000 will have to I
T disbursed between now and the meeting
= the 5Oth Congress TO bondholders Tn
viii remove all danger on the account of